US Accused of Pressuring Latin America Over Cuban Doctors Program

Latin America - Ekhbary News Agency

Cuba has accused the United States of "extorting" Latin American nations, pressuring them to cancel long-standing agreements for deploying Cuban doctors. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez stated that the US is attempting to "strangle" the communist island's economy, which earns billions from its foreign medical missions, following the termination of these partnerships by several countries. Washington contends that the program, a significant source of Cuban pride and income since the 1960s, constitutes forced labor. This stance is part of the Trump administration's maximum pressure campaign against Cuba.

Countries seeking to maintain strong relations with Washington have begun to comply with these demands. Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, and Guyana have all ended their medical partnerships with Cuba, a nation facing potential economic collapse partly due to a US energy blockade. "The US government is persecuting, pressuring, and extorting other governments to end the presence of Cuban Medical Brigades... under false pretenses," Rodríguez declared. Approximately 24,000 Cuban medical professionals were deployed globally in 2025, with a significant portion serving in Venezuela. The program was projected to generate $7 billion last year. Recently, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights issued a report detailing alleged human rights violations, including wage withholding and passport confiscation, with some practices potentially classified as "forced labor.".

Ekhbary News Agency